.45 rreal bullet in C&B revolver

bamaranger · October 4, 2023, 10:14 PM

I read recently that one scribe stated the .45 Lee REAL bullet was the most accurate projectile you could shoot from a C&B revolver. Anybody tried that?

Seems like you'd have a heck of a time seating them with the revolver rammer. In considering further, I doubt you could even get them under the rammer of most pistols.
Best way, if it could be done at all. would be cylinder only and al oading press.

From a Ruger Old Army, that could be an interesting load.

ballardw · October 5, 2023, 01:43 AM

Did your source specify which bullet weight? It appears that Lee makes the .45 REAL in 200 and 250 grain (nominal) weights. Might be a case of one will fit and the other not.

Hawg · October 5, 2023, 05:43 AM

I think you're going to have to load them with the cylinder off. I also think they're going to be hard to keep straight.

Hellgate · October 5, 2023, 10:16 PM

The .45 REAL would only work in the Ruger Old Army. I have a .44 REAL mold and it is perfect for the Remington C&B revolvers in .44 cal. For any of the REAL bullets you need to be sure the mold completely fills out the driving bands or else the bullets will migrate forward under recoil and jam the cylinder.

bedbugbilly · October 7, 2023, 08:01 PM

"most accurate projectile"

My . . . . that's a mighty big statement. That fellow ought to be writing books and holding seminars . . . . :-)

bamaranger · October 7, 2023, 11:11 PM

The REAL bullet diameter might well be .44, as it seems there were .44 and .45 REAL molds, the .44 now discontiuned. It also makes sense that the Ruger would accept the .45 as the Ruger Old Army used .457" round balls. Bullet weight likely 200 gr. I knew one of the cowboy shooters would fill us in on this.

I would think the flat sided REAL would seat "straighter" than the heeled pistol bullets of the day from current reproduction sources.

Hawg · October 8, 2023, 12:17 PM

Lee .45 REALS are tapered from .452 at the base to .467 at the top.

bamaranger · October 8, 2023, 09:55 PM

Well, ramming home a .467" slug might take a bit of doing, again, off gun with a loading press might be the way. In reading more about this topic, I read round ball holds the accuracy records hands down. I suppose one can't really seat a swaged round ball crookedly.

If I were ever to try and hunt medium game with an Old Army though, I sure would experiment with the REAL a bit if it could be done.

5whiskey · October 17, 2023, 09:48 PM

Bama, I've never tried the "REAL" in a C&B revolver. I have tried it in a flintlock rifle. I was not at all impressed. Patched ball groups were 1/4th of the size of the REAL. And I gave it a real effort too. I cast several lots, made sure they were filled out perfectly, used several different lubes, reduced powder charge, increased powder charge, tried over-powder wads (even used wasp nest), tried without over-powder wads, tried various combinations of wads/no wads with various combinations of powder charges, waited until the sun and moon aligned, etc. It just... didn't... work.

EDIT: The rifle was a T/C renegade with the compromise twist rate, so I suppose that is pertinent info. Still, this is where the REAL is supposed to perform well.

October 4, 2023, 10:14 PM	#1
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,317	.45 rreal bullet in C&B revolver I read recently that one scribe stated the .45 Lee REAL bullet was the most accurate projectile you could shoot from a C&B revolver. Anybody tried that? Seems like you'd have a heck of a time seating them with the revolver rammer. In considering further, I doubt you could even get them under the rammer of most pistols. Best way, if it could be done at all. would be cylinder only and al oading press. From a Ruger Old Army, that could be an interesting load.

October 5, 2023, 01:43 AM	#2
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,415	Did your source specify which bullet weight? It appears that Lee makes the .45 REAL in 200 and 250 grain (nominal) weights. Might be a case of one will fit and the other not. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

October 5, 2023, 10:16 PM	#4
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	The .45 REAL would only work in the Ruger Old Army. I have a .44 REAL mold and it is perfect for the Remington C&B revolvers in .44 cal. For any of the REAL bullets you need to be sure the mold completely fills out the driving bands or else the bullets will migrate forward under recoil and jam the cylinder. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

October 7, 2023, 08:01 PM	#5
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	"most accurate projectile" My . . . . that's a mighty big statement. That fellow ought to be writing books and holding seminars . . . . :-) __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

October 7, 2023, 11:11 PM	#6
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,317	sizes The REAL bullet diameter might well be .44, as it seems there were .44 and .45 REAL molds, the .44 now discontiuned. It also makes sense that the Ruger would accept the .45 as the Ruger Old Army used .457" round balls. Bullet weight likely 200 gr. I knew one of the cowboy shooters would fill us in on this. I would think the flat sided REAL would seat "straighter" than the heeled pistol bullets of the day from current reproduction sources.

October 5, 2023, 05:43 AM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	I think you're going to have to load them with the cylinder off. I also think they're going to be hard to keep straight.

October 8, 2023, 12:17 PM	#7
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	Lee .45 REALS are tapered from .452 at the base to .467 at the top.

October 8, 2023, 09:55 PM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,317	measurments Well, ramming home a .467" slug might take a bit of doing, again, off gun with a loading press might be the way. In reading more about this topic, I read round ball holds the accuracy records hands down. I suppose one can't really seat a swaged round ball crookedly. If I were ever to try and hunt medium game with an Old Army though, I sure would experiment with the REAL a bit if it could be done.

October 17, 2023, 09:48 PM	#9
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,657	Bama, I've never tried the "REAL" in a C&B revolver. I have tried it in a flintlock rifle. I was not at all impressed. Patched ball groups were 1/4th of the size of the REAL. And I gave it a real effort too. I cast several lots, made sure they were filled out perfectly, used several different lubes, reduced powder charge, increased powder charge, tried over-powder wads (even used wasp nest), tried without over-powder wads, tried various combinations of wads/no wads with various combinations of powder charges, waited until the sun and moon aligned, etc. It just... didn't... work. EDIT: The rifle was a T/C renegade with the compromise twist rate, so I suppose that is pertinent info. Still, this is where the REAL is supposed to perform well. __________________ Support the NRA-ILA Auction, ends 03/09/2018 https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=593946 Last edited by 5whiskey; October 17, 2023 at 09:55 PM.